Re: I am a boxing manager: if you have questions about the boxing biz, ask!

Quote:

Originally Posted by sooners4life98

Thanks for the open invite to ask questions and on who to contact. What is the best way to find my fighters sponsors? I don't have any money to invest in my future fighters so would a 10% management fee be ok? I know there are some dirty folks in this business and I am not going to be one of them. One more question, would it be the right thing to do to have a lawyer draw up a few contracts to give to my potential prospects or can this be done on my own? Thanks for the help in advance.

Getting sponsors is difficult you have to knock on many doors, see if you can tie in your fighters with something the sponsor can relate to, the fighter was a great HS star, or he is a well known amateur. Ten is good, by all means get a lawyer to draw up a contract. A word to the wise dont sign too many fighters, start with one or two. Learn, as you go, the most stressful words a manager hears is when they say, "When am I gonna fight?" And you dont have an answer. Try to get to know all the promoters in your area.

Last edited by dempsey1234; 05-13-2013 at 10:15 PM.
Reason: adding a missing word

Re: I am a boxing manager: if you have questions about the boxing biz, ask!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dempsey1234

Getting sponsors is difficult you have to knock on many doors, see if you can tie in your fighters with something the sponsor can relate to, the fighter was a great HS star, or he is a well known amateur. Ten is good, by all means get a lawyer to draw up a contract. A word to the wise dont sign too many fighters, start with one or two. Learn, as you go, the most stressful words a manager hears is when they say, "When am I gonna fight?" And you dont have an answer. Try to get to know all the promoters in your area.

There are two in my area and Dobbs and his partner have cards on a regular basis (every two to three months). I just have to get my tail down to the gym and other spots to scout out some folks.

Re: I am a boxing manager: if you have questions about the boxing biz, ask!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dempsey1234

Tyson was an exception, he had smart boxing guys who bought fights for Mike and were willing to to spend money pushing him into the limelight. He fought anywhere and everywhere coming up, for whatever his management team were working on a plan, and it worked but then two of the team's guidng forces died(Cus D'amto and Jimmy Jacobs, leaving Mike rudderless for the rest of his career.
Today that would be harder and more expensive to have that many bodies lined up. All of Mike's opponents at that time were hand picked to add to the perception that he was a giant killer. Mike, fought big, slow guys, 6'4", 6'5", 6'6", guys that were taller and bigger. In boxing $ dictates, remember at first Tyson didn't have a high profile promoter.

How would it be harder today?

And when you say pay for fights what exactly do you mean? Because I have a friend who just turned pro and hes looking to get as many fights under his belt as he can.

Re: I am a boxing manager: if you have questions about the boxing biz, ask!

Quote:

Originally Posted by KB50MJ

How would it be harder today?

And when you say pay for fights what exactly do you mean? Because I have a friend who just turned pro and hes looking to get as many fights under his belt as he can.

When Tyson was fighting there were more decent oppts to choose from, a perfect example is Deontay Wilder, 28-0, with 28 junk ko's. Like I said Tyson had really knowledgible people behind him. Tyson's people had a plan, Wilder's people have no clue they keep putting him in with guys for target practice. Tyson's people picked guys who were taller then Mike. They considered Mike's height and figured he needed experience fighting taller guys. Wilder's people pick guys based on the inability to pose absolutelly no threat to Wilder. Tyson had a HOF'r, on his team, Cus and a guy who just passed away Johnny Bos, who should be a HOF'r, making his fights. Wilder, has a friend of Oscar D, and who used to drive a Frito-Lay potato chip truck, and Marco A. Barrera's, driver making his fights.
Many times a promoter cos he has no dates or lack of a promoter can keep a fighter inactive. What Tyson's people did was, find a show that they could put Mike on. They would tell the promoter that they would pay for Mike's fight, meaning they would pay Mike and the opponent, with no cost to the promoter. The promoter would be happy cos he had an extra free fight on his card.
If your friend can get a money guy behind him to pay for fights, or be a fighter that can put butts in the seats then he can have all the activity he wants, but try to do it with some thought as to where he wants to go in the game. Tyson plan or Wilders plan he has to decide.

Re: I am a boxing manager: if you have questions about the boxing biz, ask!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dempsey1234

When Tyson was fighting there were more decent oppts to choose from, a perfect example is Deontay Wilder, 28-0, with 28 junk ko's. Like I said Tyson had really knowledgible people behind him. Tyson's people had a plan, Wilder's people have no clue they keep putting him in with guys for target practice. Tyson's people picked guys who were taller then Mike. They considered Mike's height and figured he needed experience fighting taller guys. Wilder's people pick guys based on the inability to pose absolutelly no threat to Wilder. Tyson had a HOF'r, on his team, Cus and a guy who just passed away Johnny Bos, who should be a HOF'r, making his fights. Wilder, has a friend of Oscar D, and who used to drive a Frito-Lay potato chip truck, and Marco A. Barrera's, driver making his fights.
Many times a promoter cos he has no dates or lack of a promoter can keep a fighter inactive. What Tyson's people did was, find a show that they could put Mike on. They would tell the promoter that they would pay for Mike's fight, meaning they would pay Mike and the opponent, with no cost to the promoter. The promoter would be happy cos he had an extra free fight on his card.
If your friend can get a money guy behind him to pay for fights, or be a fighter that can put butts in the seats then he can have all the activity he wants, but try to do it with some thought as to where he wants to go in the game. Tyson plan or Wilders plan he has to decide.

Well the money guy thing is a no go. Lol.

He has a very exciting fighter. As an amat he won by ko most of the time and he was able to get people to watch him localy. So without any money, how should he go about getting more fights and exposure?

Re: I am a boxing manager: if you have questions about the boxing biz, ask!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thracian

Where did you read the part about Jim Jacobs and Bill Cayton paying for Tyson & his opponents purses in his early days?

It's really a common practice, even today. Whats usually done is a manager approaches a promoter, says, "Can you put my guy on I will pay for my fighter if you pay for the opponent, the promoter may or may not accept that he might say "I will put your fighter on if you pay for the opponent also. Remember Tyson at that time didnt have a promoter and was relativily unknown to most fan's at the time.
Dont take it to mean it was a fixed fight, it was buying a spot on someone's show, thats all.
The Tyson buildup was a masterful managerial plan, they were beholding to nobody. When Cus and Jacobs died that changed everything King took over and Tyson now is almost broke.
I really didn't read it anywhere, I know it for a fact, suffice it to say when you have a fighter, sometimes you have to be able to put him on a card to keep him active that is if you can afford it and Tyson's team could and they stuck to their game plan to start a sometimes brilliant and tragic career.

Last edited by dempsey1234; 05-16-2013 at 07:13 PM.
Reason: adding a word

Re: I am a boxing manager: if you have questions about the boxing biz, ask!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dempsey1234

It's really a common practice, even today. Whats usually done is a manager approaches a promoter, says, "Can you put my guy on I will pay for my fighter if you pay for the opponent, the promoter may or may not accept that he might say "I will put your fighter on if you pay for the opponent also. Remember Tyson at that time didnt have a promoter and was relativily unknown to most fan's at the time.
Dont take it to mean it was a fixed fight, it was buying a spot on someone's show, thats all.
The Tyson buildup was a masterful managerial plan, they were beholding to nobody. When Cus and Jacobs died that changed everything King took over and Tyson now is almost broke.
I really didn't read it anywhere, I know it for a fact, suffice it to say when you have a fighter, sometimes you have to be able to put him on a card to keep him active that is if you can afford it and Tyson's team could and they stuck to their game plan to start a sometimes brilliant and tragic career.

Or if they manager doesnt have any money the fighter can chose to fight for free right?

What would be the best way for a newly turned pro to get a good start and get experience and exposure quickly. Would getting a promoter be the best way or taking the route that tyson did?

I also read that tysons team would also film all of his fights and send them out to the top sports writters in the country. I could imagine that would get someone know quickly too.

Re: I am a boxing manager: if you have questions about the boxing biz, ask!

You can end up fighting for free trust me i know pro's that have they only got paid on ticket sales took too many tickets that friends,family etc said they were going to go & pulled out.They covered the shortfall 100% fact.
Prospects without decent management struggle for this reason alone because the prospect often has to sell enough to cover the oppt you would be VERY suprised the 'journeyman' oppt often earns but the prospect is working on tight margins pressure to win & build interest again comes down to your team.
Tyson was certainly having to buy opponents early days.Look up his early career fighting every couple of weeks highlight reel early k.o's momentum followed & everyone was interested.The heavyweight scene was so open at the time opportunity knocked he took it because of the team behind him they were all pulling in the same direction no ego's.
Take D'amato he had a heavyweight champ many moon's back Patterson who got destroyed by Liston x2.D'amato at his age it wasn't about the money Tyson was his Liston the type of heavyweight any trainer,manager or promoter dreams about.

Re: I am a boxing manager: if you have questions about the boxing biz, ask!

Quote:

Originally Posted by KB50MJ

Or if they manager doesnt have any money the fighter can chose to fight for free right?

What would be the best way for a newly turned pro to get a good start and get experience and exposure quickly. Would getting a promoter be the best way or taking the route that tyson did?

I also read that tysons team would also film all of his fights and send them out to the top sports writters in the country. I could imagine that would get someone know quickly too.

Tyson's management team had a great plan, and a media blitz was part of it. Remember twice lost to Henry Tillman in the Olympic trials and was not as highly thought of besides being too short.
Not many can afford the Tyson plan, or have a potential Tyson. The best advice is not only to look good, make every fight a fight, take it to the opponent, dont just settle for a win.

Re: I am a boxing manager: if you have questions about the boxing biz, ask!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dempsey1234

Tyson's management team had a great plan, and a media blitz was part of it. Remember twice lost to Henry Tillman in the Olympic trials and was not as highly thought of besides being too short.
Not many can afford the Tyson plan, or have a potential Tyson. The best advice is not only to look good, make every fight a fight, take it to the opponent, dont just settle for a win.

Thanks man. Appreciate the advise. Ill tell him tomorrow what you said.

What promoter do you think would be good for him? Like a promoter that wont take advantage of him. Or does that come with the territory?

Re: I am a boxing manager: if you have questions about the boxing biz, ask!

Quote:

Originally Posted by KB50MJ

Thanks man. Appreciate the advise. Ill tell him tomorrow what you said.

What promoter do you think would be good for him? Like a promoter that wont take advantage of him. Or does that come with the territory?

I couldn't say which promoter cos I dont know anything about the fighter. Check with your local boxing commission and gyms to see who's who, and what's what in your local area. You will find, fighters, and trainers like to talk, ask them about their experience's with this promoter or that trainer dont be afraid to ask, do your homework and if you are offered a contract managerial or promotional make sure you read the whole thing not just the money part.
Good luck

Re: I am a boxing manager: if you have questions about the boxing biz, ask!

Tonight we have a fighter that had no place getting a title shot but opportunity knocked let down himself his manager & promoters & the fans.
Lee Purdy from here in the uk failing on the scales for the record this is the second fight on the trot this has happened. Purdy given the opportunity of a lifetime B side fighter who now because of his unprofesionalism it becomes a non-title fight.

The promoters are fuming rightly so & brings heat onto the manager of Purdy as the TV companies are also unhappy both sides of the pond.
It has happened before will happen again no doubt but trust me 9 times out of 10 when the B side fighter fails on the scales it's because they may well have written off their own chances before the bell has rung.

The manager has already hinted the 2 hours given to sweat off the excess wasn't exactly met with any great ambition to do so.
The tale being just as great opportunities open those doors quickly shut unless you are a real top talent Rios for example the fall out for Purdy will be there will be no third chance to let people down.

Re: I am a boxing manager: if you have questions about the boxing biz, ask!

When boxing fans get together the conversations always start around favourite fighters,longevity,who they fought,who they avoided P4P lists etc.

At some point we ALWAYS talk about a fighters heart the question then naturally progresses to a fighters chin.There is a fighter from France that no-one can question this aspect of his resume.HOF fighter from France the great Marcel Cerdan?No we are talking about a fighter that fought either side of the 1st WW Eugene Criqui a flyweight who made his debut in 1910.Within two years he had won his domestic title however in 1914 he was TKO by Charles LeDoux.Maybe not such a great chin?

It was to be Criqui's last fight before being drafted into the French army to face the P4P heavyweight Germany it was a challenge that the little man was more than up to he was a decorated serving soldier however his campaign on that field was also to be cut short.While on guard duty in the killing fields of the Verdun his jaw was shattered by a German sniper's bullet it blew the left side of his jaw away.

Criqui's war was over so he was told was his boxing career the doctors advised him they could restructure his jaw it would never be strong enough to withstand right's & left's.
He thought otherwise if a German bullet couldn't keep him counted out nothing could.
Two painful years he spent having operations wire,silver plates,plastic & a story about grafted goat's bone tell you all you need to know about his determination to return there was unfinished business to attend to.

He certainly did return to the ring as a featherweight embarking on a long unbeaten run the jaw holding up nicely.1921 saw him win the domestic featherweight title the first defence was to come against LeDoux how would his chin hold up against the man that stopped him in 10.Well LeDoux came out confidently Criqui unleashed a barrage of blows & the fight was over in the opening stanza.Redemption had been sweet & he was on a roll.

The European title followed as did three quick defences he had maneuvered his way into the world featherweight title picture standing in his way Johnny Kilbane 11 year featherweight title holder.Fazed not likely it was to be Criqui's USA debut & he was written off as a easy defence for the ring veteran.

In 6 rounds in New York Criqui stunned the boxing writers betting fraternity & fans with a stunning 6 round ko victory against all the odds he was on top of the world.

Sadly it was to be a short lived title reign part of the contract was he had to defend it against the top ranked opponent within two months he was badly managed this was widely accepted by the USA sport scribes of the day.The fearsome future HOF fighter Johnny Dundee was to be his first defence.Dundee had waited 13 years to win the title.Criqui had held the title 54 days.

Criqui took 15 rounds of punishment he never won a round a count of 9 in the first.Three counts of 9 in the second the pattern went on for 45 minutes of the Frenchman with the scars of bullet wounds being pounded on.He kept getting up he kept walking forward pre war a skilful fighter had changed into a crowding puncher let's face it with his experience life had taught him meet everything head on.

The fight ended a new champion was crowned the little Frenchman with a massive heart & unquestioned chin shook Dundee's hand smiling in the centre of the ring.His face had been contorted by war.The fight left him with both eyes near closed,cut & a broken nose still he smiled he had seen & felt a lot worse.The partisan USA New York crowd couldn't help but admire him he was guts,determination personified.He was given an ovation out of the ring on a par with the new champion.

He went back to France with $41,000 for his only defence he was & still is a national hero sporting & otherwise remembered as the man they couldn't break his heart,will or chin.

When the question comes up again at some point when you are sitting with your friends in a bar & a fighters chin is discussed.My advice sit back listen at the arguments & mention Criqui & his unique story it's a argument that is hard to beat.Criqui yes he certainly could take a shot in more ways than one.